cards inquire about weaver

by lboros on May 11, 2007 12:57 PM EDT Comment 47 comments

this morning i received the following e-mail from a knowledgeable source: "Yesterday afternoon Jocketty called [Seattle GM Bill] Bavasi and said he'd be willing to take Weaver as long as the M's cover most of the salary."

don't know if it's true, and don't have time to try to confirm it; i do trust the information. in my opinion, he's not the answer . . . . but then, the cards are one sore arm away from having keisler back in the rotation --- or matt ginter, or the not-yet-ready hawksworth or parisi.

Update [2007-5-11 14:10:59 by lboros]: weaver to be DFA'd today, per my source.

Update [2007-5-11 16:37:21 by lboros]: USS Mariner is now reporting the same thing --- ie, impending roster move involving weaver.

Update [2007-5-11 19:54:20 by lboros]: . . . . and he ends up on the 15-day disabled list . . . .

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Anybody surprised??

I'm not.

by silent_bob on May 11, 2007 1:03 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

i can't believe i'm saying this

but that news makes me pretty happy. i know he's been utter garbajo for seattle and maybe it's the fond memories of game five still dancing in my head, but i think with a better defense, being in the nl and having duncan back as his coach he could be a alright. i'd receive the dream weav with open arms.

thanks for the update lb

Future Redbirds

by erik on May 11, 2007 1:03 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Refresh my recollection

Weava is only on a one year deal right? We offered two, but at a much lower number.

With Carp out for most of the year, it seems like it wouldn't hurt to bring the Weave back for another shot (unless he is hurt).

by OCCardsFan on May 11, 2007 1:03 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

as long as it doesn't cost us

anderson, ankiel, mather, or evans (oops, too late...)

Oh, and as long as he works out his kinks in AA and not STL.

Lutvig walks amongst us!!! (now to free j-rod...)

by SleepyCA on May 11, 2007 1:06 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

You're not...

really still worried about Evans, are you? He seems to be thriving at AAA, but still, we won the World Series.

Mather is this year's Evans (they say), but Jeff's value has to be lower than it was last July.

by guayzimi on May 11, 2007 1:18 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

evans

i am not losing sleep about evans, but it (a comparable player) would be too high of a price to pay this time around. it wouldnt hurt to bring dream weaver back as long as the cost is essentially free.

by dmb60614 on May 11, 2007 1:29 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

not losing sleep over it

Hindsight is 20/20, he was probably not going to make it in our organization, and I'd rather trade him to an AL team than lose him to Rule 5 in a year. but at the time it seemed awful. Ankiel wasn't looking like much of a prospect then, Ludwick hadn't yet signed, and Mather hadn't started to rake, so he seemed much more valuable then than he would be now.

Still, I think we paid too much last year (I'm not one that believes that Weaver was the reason for our post-season success) and I think that if we pay anything NEAR what we paid last year we'll be paying too much.

Also, keep in mind that Bavasi is not Billy Beane. He is probably the 2nd or 3rd worst GM in the game, and he's dealing from a position of incredible weakness. Taking advantage of guys like him is how WJ made his reputation.

Lutvig walks amongst us!!! (now to free j-rod...)

by SleepyCA on May 11, 2007 2:10 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Sleepy

How can you say we paid too much last year when that trade helped us bring us to the ultimate goal of the world series. I don't see how you can see Weaver didn't attribute to our postseason success. Who was the other option? Did you watch the same playoffs that I did?

Overall, it comes down to taking your pick - Evans or World Series?

On with the youth movement!

by aet15 on May 11, 2007 2:16 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

He won one game

and lost one game in the world series. We won the series in 5 games. I think we could have started Narveson, Thompson, and marquis and pulled out one of those 3 games of the world series that we didn't win without Weaver's help.

He also won one game and lost one game in the NLCS. Narveson probably could have done that (the mets were worse against lefties than we were last year). Even though he only gave up 2 runs in the game he won in the NLCS, I believe that was largely due to luck (go back and watch that game again; he was constantly getting in and out of jams). He gave up 5 doubles, 2 BB and 6 hits in 6 innings that game, with only one K. 2 runs was a miracle.

He did pitch 5 innings of gem in the NLDS, but we won that series in 4 games...

Yes, I am extrmely happy that we won the series, and if the choice is "minor league OF prospect or WS title" I'd take "WS title" any day (duh). Heck, if the choice was "trade Chris Carpenter for another title" I'd take it. I just don't think that the choice that was made was the only choice, and I don't think Weaver was "the reason" we won the WS.

Lutvig walks amongst us!!! (now to free j-rod...)

by SleepyCA on May 11, 2007 2:39 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Also

Don't forget, Carp was scheduled to start game 7 of the WS, if it came to that, and he absolutely owned the tigers the first time around.

Lutvig walks amongst us!!! (now to free j-rod...)

by SleepyCA on May 11, 2007 2:45 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Anything more than

some 26-year-old scrub in A-ball and a pack of Orbit gum (flavor to be named later) would be overpaying.

Dude's got an ERA of almost 14.5.

by craig3410 on May 11, 2007 2:54 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

mint mohihto would be out of the question

that lemon lime crap would still be out of question, even though it falls apart in your mouth, and tastes like pinesol

Jason Marquis still sucks.

by kyle man on May 11, 2007 4:13 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

This is great...

we'd pick up for free what we were going to pay handsomely for...

I wouldn't support this except for Carp's injury and now Narveson being out, our depth is disappearing. It would mean Thompson would have to return to the pen, which would be unfortunate...

by guayzimi on May 11, 2007 1:09 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Maybe I'm an idiot...

but would it be possible to get a package deal. Maybe the M's have somebody blocked at AAA that would help the Cards out. I barely know the M's lineup, let alone that of the AAA team, but maybe this makes for a good opportunity.

by cardzfanbub on May 11, 2007 1:19 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

One Player in mind

On your suggestion, I would love the Cardinals try to get Jeremy Reed in the deal also. I have no idea how this kid isn't playing on the big league team. He's a doubles hitter with a plus plus glove. A lot like Coco Crisp but has the potential to be a better hitter. I have a very good friend that is a huge White Soxs fan who was irrate when the White Soxs traded him. He has battled injuries the last two years but they aren't constant types of injuries. He seems like the type of center fielder how would fit in perfect with St. Louis.

by stl3bagger on May 11, 2007 1:40 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Reed

The problem with going after Reed is that all we can afford to trade to the M's is an outfielder. I'd be down for a trade like Narveson for Weaver and Reed, but I don't see why they'd do it.

On with the youth movement!

by aet15 on May 11, 2007 1:56 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Agree

I'm not for sure what he can offer them but I would love to have Reed somehow. Would they be interested in someone like John Rodrigez? Just an idea. I don't expect anyone other than just Weaver if we make a deal.

by stl3bagger on May 11, 2007 2:31 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

SS

Do they have anybody worth looking at at the SS position? Right now they have Betancourt who seems to be a quality major leaguer. I'd take him or an equivalent AA or AAA SS along with Weaver for some of your AAAA pitching and OFer's.

by cardzfanbub on May 11, 2007 2:23 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

no thanks

I'd rather see what Brad Thompson has to offer than Weaver get knocked around and we part ways again this fall. What's the point? He's no savior and it doesn't help us next offseason at all.

by plh903 on May 11, 2007 1:34 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I think we need an innings eater

and if Weaver can't be a starter like he was during the playoffs last year, he atleast can take the Josh Hancock-mop up role, especially with Thompson in the rotation for now.

I wouldn't be opposed to it, I wouldn't even be opposed to the Cardinals assuming the cost they had originally planned to give Jeff.

Maybe this was some grand plan by the Cardinals and Weaver to get him his money and get him back in the rotation.

TLR: "Jeff, we really need you"
Jeff: "Yeah, but I'd really like to get paid"
TLR: "Walt and I were talking about that, let's tell ya what we came up with..."

Walk your dog, not Pujols.

by Hardcore Legend on May 11, 2007 1:57 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

brilliant!

So, in this scenario, has Weaver been tanking it or did everybody just know he'd stink?

by raisin on May 11, 2007 2:31 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Question

So say we do aquire Weaver. Can we send him to the minors for a little bit or back to extended spring training? Or do we have to immediately have to put him on the 25 man roster?

by stl3bagger on May 11, 2007 2:32 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

waivers

he'd have to clear waivers to go to the minors and that shouldnt be a problem. i think he'd also have the right to refuse the assignment (not sure if that would be a problem). my guess is he would spend a few weeks pitching out of the pen whilst under the watchful eye of duncan. if the cards are interested i think its because they think they see a mechanical flaw they believe they can fix. if thats true they would want weaver around the big league club some duncan can work with him.

by dmb60614 on May 11, 2007 2:39 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

guess

I'm in the minority here...but I don't freaking want Jeff Weaver back. He's been about the worst pitcher in the AL so far this season and he's been much much worse than he was last year when we acquired him. This year is looking lost already and I would really rather see some of our team's future now than a terrible retread.

That said, if we do get him, it would be very cheap and I suppose there's a chance that he could produce at a level near to what he did in the postseason. I am not optimistic though.

Now the story of a wealthy family who lost everything, and the one son who had no choice but to keep them all together...it's Arrested Development.

by Bowen on May 11, 2007 2:59 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Fond memories of tha Weav

Every now and then I find myself reminiscing about last Oct. 27, and I say over and over, "Dude... effing Weaver, man."

That said, Dude is getting his weed-addled brain beaten in. Sure, the A.L. is the better league, but come on. His ERA's been in double figures the entire season.

Since we'd be dealing with Seattle, maybe we could get him for a used copy of Windows 3.1 and a Nirvana bootleg tape.

The 26th Man

by 26thMan on May 11, 2007 3:12 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

As part of the new 'anti-drunk driving'

program, Seattle agrees to provide after game coffee to sober up the exiting fans.

Walk your dog, not Pujols.

by Hardcore Legend on May 11, 2007 3:15 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

maybe that's the problem

the weed's too good in SEA. i have a friend out there who can attest to that.

give jeff the schwag!

Rabid Redbird

by gthedamned on May 11, 2007 3:44 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

LOL...

I'll even throw in the Nirvana bootleg...I have like 250 of them (seriously). We could acquire Weaver back for the new 11/25/90 SBD upgrade! /geek

I'd be in favor of reacquiring Weaver. I saw him pitch for Seattle about 3 weeks ago, and he just did not look comfortable. His stuff wasn't awful, but he had terrible body language every time somebody got a hit off him and then he'd groove one, hoping it would be hit at someone. His velocity wasn't bad, but he didn't have much movement and it was pretty obvious his heart wasn't in it. After every hit it almost seemed like he was cursing his decision to sign with Seattle. I wouldn't at all be surprised to see him back with the Cards, and soon.

My hope is that they can pick up somebody else with him...say, Raul Ibanez or somebody. Ichiro isn't going to happen, and he'd cost too much, but I wouldn't be opposed to Jose Guillen or Raul Ibanez, or somebody down in AAA. Walt could probably fleece the hell out of Bavasi if he wanted to...

by matt reeder on May 11, 2007 3:45 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

could be good....

I don't see this rotation holding together without someone eating innings like Weaver can...He'd have to come awfully cheap though...

by joeyart on May 11, 2007 3:26 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I certainly do not want him back

If he didn't want to stay, why should we want to get him back?

we will miss you Josh Hancock JH32

by kyle man on May 11, 2007 3:29 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

it's

called money. It's not like he didn't want to stay. It's just that cash money was being waved in front of his face.

On with the youth movement!

by aet15 on May 11, 2007 5:07 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Why not shoot for the moon?

Why not try to broker some off the wall deal? Not just get Weaver, but try to get somebody else? Say we'll eat Weavers contract, but you throw in some top prospect or Ichiro. (Sorry I couldn't resist.)

Jimscobert Purolmonds - MV3

by OKCardsfan on May 11, 2007 3:32 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

hmmmm....

while we're at it, let's ask if we can have 1997 Ken Griffey

by Fitz on May 11, 2007 6:22 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

that would be nice

Jason Marquis still sucks.

by kyle man on May 12, 2007 1:27 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

This

makes absolutely no sense to me. They didn't want him before, why now? That old saying, "lightning doesn't strike twice" comes to mind here.

by cardsrul on May 11, 2007 3:40 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

They did

But not at that price. Now, if the price is much lower (and DFA is pretty low), their interest revives.

by Cardinal70 on May 11, 2007 4:04 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

What would the Cards have to pay

if they claim him off waivers?

by silent_bob on May 11, 2007 4:09 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

contract

if the cards claim him off waivers the cards would have to pay the remainder of the original contract. if he clears waivers and is released the signing team would only be on the hook for the prorated portion of the veteran minimum.

by dmb60614 on May 11, 2007 4:14 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

conspiracy theory

weaver went to seattle, tanked on purpose knowing tlr's love for him and he'd land on his feet in the lou and that someone, m's or cards, would be picking up his salary. ok, it's 99% not likely to be true, but i was sorta wondering.

i guess i've flip flopped. i thought about having him back and verses having thompson start, i'd rather have thompson start.

however, i don't think that weaver is THIS BAD.

Future Redbirds

by erik on May 11, 2007 4:30 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

what I'm scared of is...

That even if weaver gets back on track it'll be too late. Seattle is 15-15, 15-9 in non weaver games. St. Louis needs to make a run to stay in it, seeing weaver every 5 days or out of the bullpen on any given day is just too scary. Dude may be great in the 2nd half, but we can't have him ruining 7 more games in the 1st half.

I'm in support of duncan and weaver going on sabbatical to India for a month and seeing what they can work out as long as their is a jumbo screen their so that dunc can keep talking to Braden looper every 5 days.

If Weaver doesn't work out we can just leave him in India.

By the way, there isn't another team in baseball, and I'm talking the indy leagues as well, actually talking about potential positives in this guy. If we can't work out a deal then hip hoo ray.

In fact I don't WANT to work out a deal, I want the 10 days to pass and for us to sign him to a minor league deal.

by bretsyboo on May 11, 2007 5:20 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

What makes me smile

Is that this scenario (picking up DreamWeaver when and not if he was DFA'd) has been discussed since day one that Weaver signed with the Mariners. Oh the prophetic nature of VEB.

Jimmy steps in to lead off the bottom half of the inning... with nobody on base... It could happen... just not tonight.

by Hollywood15 on May 11, 2007 6:14 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

MLB...

has to clamp down on this. Weaver sucks, that's all. They should cap the number of times a team can use the disabled list in a season. That would prevent misuse...

by guayzimi on May 11, 2007 7:40 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Weaver brilliant?

First, there may be something to the "weed" theory. Exotic West Coast Marijuana could account for his current numbers.

On the other hand, maybe Weaver is a genius. Let's see....salvage dead career...win a ring........get a gazillion from the Mariners....end up back with the best pitching coach ever in the best baseball town ever.....not a bad deal

Maybe he's smarter than we think

by Hinkster on May 11, 2007 8:31 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs